This article relates to civil cases in which a husband and wife are seeking or contemplating a separation or divorce, except 'claims for absolute divorce,' and states that parties may enter into collaborative law proceedings if there is a written agreement signed by parties and their lawyers to do so. The parties' attorneys may not later serve as litigation counsel if collaborative law proceedings fail to result in a settlement, and other forms of alternative dispute resolution (such as mediation and binding arbitration) may be pursued "to reach a settlement on any of the issues included in the collaborative law agreement."